Product therefor



. are first cut.

Un ted. serelee Q METHOD OF TREATING CUT FLOWERS AND PRODUCT THEREFQR Wayne L. Ryan, Omaha, Nebr.

No Drawing. Application May 8, 1957 Serial No. 657,720

11 Claims. (Cl. 47-58) the flowers in full bloom for an extended period, the

Although it is longer the period the more desirable. possible to approach this desirable condition to a certain extent by advance notice to the grower or florist,

I such is'not usually possible. Thus it is not uncommon .for a user to buy out flowers as buds and then hope 7 that they will bloom in time for their intended use as a floral display. Many'homemakers, for example, desire to use out flowers as a table centerpiece. If the cut flowers purchased for this purpose are already in full bloom, there is always the chance that they will wilt prior If they are to the time they-are used as a. centerpiece. purchased as budsthere is always the possibility thatthey will not developv in time to provide the desired floral arrangement." Further, some buds might develop while others will not'which then also destroys the desired ar- Still further, it is usually impracticable for rangement. the homemaker to resort to extraordinary devices and expedients to bring flowers into proper bloom and maintain them in that condition when she is involvedin other preparations.

' outside the. indicated range.

2,923,094 iste one we;

Another object is to provide a method and product that rapidly accelerates the blooming or near-blooming of cut flowers. Yet another object is to provide a method and product that accelerates the blooming of cut flowers and preserves the bloomed flowers for a substantial period thereafter. Still another object is toprovide a method and product for preserving and enhancing cut flowefs up to the time they pass into the hands of a user. A still further object is to provide a cut flower preservative and method of using the same which substantially achieves the desirable results set forth above.' Other objects and advantages of my invention will be seen as this specification proceeds. 1

In one embodiment of my invention, I achieve acceleration of the blooming of buds on cut flowers by maintaining the'stems of cut flowers in an aqueous medium having a pH outside the range 4-6 for a period necessary to cause blooming of the buds; Ordinarily this period is of fairly short duration and generally not in excess of twenty-four hours. It is to be appreciated that the desirable results .of'my invention are not achievable through the use of plain water despite the fact that plain water ordinarily has a pH of about 7, and is thus Maintainingthe stems of cut flowers in plain water does not produce the desirable 'results of my invention since the pH'of the water is soon altered downwardly into the range of 4-6 by stem which possess a pH in the range 4-6.

Although the mechanism by which this embodiment of my invention operates isimperfectly understood,,it

. is believed that the maintenance of the. stems of .cut flowers in an aqueous solution having a pH outside the range of 4-6 results in an increase in respiration'of the flower. When the pH returns to the normal range The problem of controlling blooming and failure or wilting is not localized merely at the consumer level, but extends over the entire period from the time the flowers by the floristto safeguard his cut flowers must not conflict with any procedures employed by the grower. It

- q'is therefore desirable that means he provided whereby cut-flowers canbe maintained in a pre-bloom state from the time they are cut up to thetime theyare purchased and then fairly rapidly developed into fullbloom. It

is equally desirable in some instances that cut flowers bemaintained and preserved against either premature of 4-6, the rate of respiration decreases.

In this embodiment of my invention I prefer to employ a pH of about 7 although satisfactory results have been obtained using a pH in therange 2-3. Ifindthat somewhat more consistent results can be obtained when the pH adjustment is made toward the alkaline side rather than toward the acid side.

To effectuate the purposes of my invention and to preserve the cut flowers when the pH is in the range 4-6 as, for example, when blooming has occurred, I find it desirable to subject the stern of the cut flowers to a preservative composition which is effective to decrease the rate of flower respiration in the-pH range 46. For this piupose I prefer to employ a composition which is also effective in realizing other of the advantages and desirable features set forth above, such as increasing the rate of transpiration and inhibiting bacterial and fungal activity.

development or wilting, either by the seller orby the 1 buyer, or both. V

The complexity of the problem is shown by the requirement. that a cut flower preservative should:

(1) Inhibit bacterial and fungal activity;

'(2) Improve transpiration (adequate water take-up); (3) Decrease the rate of respiration of the flower so as l s ,mn o e e er qt n t s h v e ts For this purpose I find silver containing compounds satisfactory. Relatively low concentrations of such compounds have proved useful, particularly in the range of 0.0001% to 0.1%. I have found that increasing the concentration of the silver containing compound results in additional decreases of respiration but that within the range specified the decreases in respiration are not of the order found to be toxic to the cut flower. 'Although most forms of silver, particularly colloidal silver,

.- are useful in a preservative composition, I prefer to use a stable form (not easily reduced by light) such as silver oxide .or.silver iodate. Of these, Lprefer silver iodate. To further stabilize silver containing compounds and increase their solubility, Iifind it advantageous to employraichelating agent suchkas .ethylenediamine tetraacetate. :If such an agent isemployed, it is preferableto :add theiagent to the solution prionto the addition ofzthe silver containing compound. For most purposes, a concentration in the final solution of-0.01 to 0.005 %of the chelating agent has been found adequate.

=Silver'containing compounds have been found effectivein inhibiting bacterial and fungal activity, decreasing-therate of respiration and improving transpiration. :I-believethe silver containing compound improves transpirationby toughening the fibre of the plant and'preventingimaceration of the stem. -Further improvement iin-transpiration can be achieved by various alumssuch as aluminum chloride, aluminum potassium :sulfate and :aluminum.-sulfate. Whensuch additional'fibre toughenlingiis desired, concentrations in the finalisolution in the .='range:of 0.01 to 0.1% have been found suitable.

"When silver containing compoundzis-employed in the :ein'bodiment'of my invention which promotes accelerated blooming of buds, I .have found it desirable to add a buffering type nnaterial. rPreferably this material can take the form of a salt of astrong base and a weakly :dissociated acid. Among the salts found satisfactory are sodium perborate and thesodium salts of citric and succinic acid. When his desired to both accelerate the blooming of buds and preserve the cut flowers thereafter, Ifind itdesirable to incorporate a nutrient material into'the aqueous solution in which the stems of the cut flowers'arernaintained. Such nutrient materialsmay 'take the form of carbohydrates, a convenient form being sucrose. Other satisfactory nutrients are lactic acid, icitric acid, -pyruvic acid, succinic acid :or the sodium "salts'of these acids. If for 'any reason it is considered ":undesirable to"-'employ ai-silvercontaining compound in :ta'composition that promotes accelerated blooming of buds and preservation'there'after, I have obtained satisfactory results by substituting streptomycin and sodium salicylate forthe'silver containing compound. Optimal resultsin such an instance'are achieved where the con- :centration of streptomycin in the final solution is one *hundred'to one-thousand micrograms per liter of -so1u tion and the sodium-salicylate 0.01 to 041 *grams per liter of solution.

A'formulation for accelerating the blooming of buds and preserving 'cutflowers thereafter can be provided in many forms. Among these'forms are included tablets, capsules, powder, concentrated-liquid and'thelike. Esp'ecially desirable results and ease of use of the above 'wlescribed' compositions can be obtained when the compo s'ition"is-impregnated in an absorbent material. Upon immersion of the absorbent material in an aqueous solutionsurroundingthestems of cut flowers, the composition desorbsand provides the desired preservative mix- --ture.

A suitable absorbent material for this purpose {is an'absorbent'paper like blotting paper impregnated with-a concentrate of the composition. In such a case it is possible to impregnate the absorbent-material with a-100 fold concentrate of'the medium and then drythe absorbent material. The absorbent material provides the proper amount of ingredients since it can be placed at the bottom of the flower-containing vase adjacent the ends of the cut flower stems.

character described above into a water soluble waxlike material that is solid atroom temperature.

Such materials canconveniently take the form "of polyethylene glycols. The suspension of the composition in the waxlike material can be applied tothestems of cut flowers ibyd ipping, spraying,'or other suitable procedures. Such -a e'oatmgreduces loss of-waterby the flower and thereby reduces the rate of wilting. It has been found to keep the cut end of the stem "fresh which irnproves transpiration while at the same time is toxic to all microorganisms on the stem. The flowers, when put in water, are stripped of the coating and the water becomes a preservative solution containing nutriment and disinfectant which further preserves the flower. The coating employed here can be applied throughout asubstantial length of the stem to stilfen the same, which eliminates'the need on the part of retail florists to wire the heads of the flowers in an upright position in order to'keep the'heads from drooping. This also eliminates unsightly wires. At the same time, the coating protects the flower stems from mechanical injury. Of the wax-like materials useful in connection with preserving flowers prior to use, I have found suitable those which, when combined with preservative formulations, have melting-points and consistencies at room temperature corresponding to that of paraffin .maintains the melting-point substantially near that of ,paraflin, namely, 39 C.

My-invention will be further explained in conjunction 'with the. following examples:

Example I vAn aqueous mixture containing 0.001% silver chloride and .004 of sodium'borate was provided. The pH of this solution was measured and found to be about 7.0. -Bud roses were provided and the stems placed in the silver chloride-sodium perborate aqueous mixture and the Eb'uds were-foundto have bloomed within a few hours.

Within twenty-four hours' the 'pH of the solution had dropped to below 6.0.

.Compariso'n'tests wherein the same type of cut flowers 'were'placed in identical aqueous mixtures demonstrated that substantially longer times were required for bloom- :ingof'b'uds when the pH was adjusted'prior to insertion "of the flower 'stems to within the range of pH4-6.

'Example .11

Various organisms were isolated from roses. The bacterial microorganisms were placed in a nutrient agar and the-moldor-fungal organisms were placed inSabouraud dextrose agar. The bacteria-found on the roses were "identified as gram -'negative organisms belonging to the :genus Erwinia. Viclecl in 'suflicient 'quantity to test three groups ofinhibitin'g agents, the groups includingantibiotics, antiseptics-and silver compounds. "be resistant to all'concentrations of the commercially available antibiotics with the exception of streptomycin, terramycin and chloromycetin. "Ten micrograms per mil- Cultures of the bacteria were then pro- The organism was found to limeter of these three antibiotics was found suflicient to kill the infectingorganisms. Of the antiseptics, alkylyldime'thyl benzylammonium chlo'ride, cetylpyridinium chloride, hexylresorcinol, 'dinitrophenol and methenamine were ineffective to kill the bacterial microorganisms when the antiseptics were used in concentrations up to 0.1%.

Hydrogen peroxide was found to inhibit bacterial growth at'a' concentration of 0.01%, sodium hypo'chlorite and chloramineT at a concentration of 0.1%. Such concentrations, however, are considered injurious to the flower in thatpremature wilting is produced. 0.001% of each aofthe followin'gxsilver'co'ntaining.compounds were found to inhibit the growth of .-the1microorganisms: colloidal silver, silver acetate, silver chloride and silver iodate.

Two types 'of fungi were isolated {on the Sabouraud ag'arand thesewerefou'nd resistant to all of the antisepares-ps4:

tics but none of the silver compounds] Confirmation or this data was obtained by immersing stems of flowers in all of the antiseptics and after three days repeating the isolation experiments. Microorganisms were found on all of the stems. Similar confirmations performed using the silver containing compounds resulted in absence of the organisms.

Example III The following formulation was prepared in a liter of water:

Ingredient: Concentration Magnesium sulfate gram 0.1 Sodium borate do.. 0.004

, Citric acid ..do 1.0 'Succinic acid do 1.0 Sucrose do 1.0

Silver iodate do 0.01

and found to be in the range of 4-6. The flowers were examined from time to time and the flowers in the vase containing my formulations as set forth above were found to last about twice as long as those having their stems immersed in the commercially available preparations, and threetimes' as long as those in water.

Example IV An experiment similar to that described in Example III was performed but wherein the formulation set forth was modified by replacing the silver iodate with 100 micrograms of streptomycin and 0.01 gram of sodium salicylate. Similar results were obtained. The same superior results with flowers immersed in a formulation according to my invention were obtained when the concentration of streptomycin was 1000 micrograms and thatof sodium salicylate 0.1 gram.

Example V The following preparation was prepared in a liter of water:

Ingredient: Concentration Magnesium sulfate ....gram 0.1 Sodium borate do 0.04 Citric acid do 5.0 Succinic acid do 5.0 Sucrose do 5.0 Silver iodate do 0.1

The pH of the foregoing aqueous mixture was adjusted to about 7.0 with sodium citrate. Solutions of two commercially available preservative compositions were provided. Four vases were provided, one having the foregoing formulation therein, two with the commercially available preservative preparations, and one with plain water. Bud roses were placed in each of the four vases. The buds in the vase containing the formulation described above bloomed within about three hours, while those in the other three vases took a considerably longer time to bloom, in some cases not all of the buds being opened after twelve hours residence in the vases. After blooming, the roses in the vase containing the formulation described above were found to have longer lives before wilting than the roses in the other three vases.

of water.

ture'corresponding to that noted in paraffin.

, Example VI The formulation set forth in Example V was provided in one vase. A similar formulation but in ten milliliters of water rather than one liter was also provided. Both had pHs of about 7.0. This second formulation was placed in a vessel and a sheet of blotting paper immersed therein. After the blottingpaper had absorbed all of the 10 milliliters of formulation, the blotting paper was placed in a desiccator. After evaporation of substantially all of the moisture from the blotting paper as determined by identical weights at spaced time intervals, the blotting paper was removed from the desiccator and placed in a vase containing a liter of water. Bud roses were introduced into each vase and throughout the blooming and life no appreciable difference was noted between the roses in the two vases. V r Y The vase containing the blotting paper had the paper positioned at the bottom thereof, adjacent the cut ends of the stems of the rose buds placed in the vase. Such a blotting paper can provide a convenient surface for printing if desired so as to advertise floral goods. Alternatively, a plurality of blotting papers can be provided in a matchbook type holder wherein the holder itself is provided with advertising and the sheets are .attached to the holder by weakened portions as by perforations.

Example VII The ingredients of the formulation'of Example V with the exception of water was provided in twenty milliliters To one part of this mixture wasadded nine parts of melted polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of 4,000. Polyethylene glycol with a molecular weight of 4,000 is sold under the trademark Carbowax by the Union Carbon & Carbide Company. The mixture of preservative and polyethylene glycol 4,000 had a melting-point of 39 C. and a consistency at room tempera- Orchids were dipped into the melted mixture to a point adjacent the flower heads and thereafter removed and the suspension permitted to dry on the stems of the orchids. After standing in a cold room (about 50 F.) for two days, the orchids were removed and placed in a vase containing water. The coating dissolved from the stems in a short time and the flowers were maintained in a state of bloom for eight days. Cultures of stem scrapings after that period revealed the absence of all organisms of the character described above in Example 11.

Example VIII The formulation of Example V without water but containing amounts of ingredients producing a buffered pH of about 7, was provided. Three parts of this formulation was incorporated into seven parts of polyethylene glycol 6,000. Bud roses were sprayed with the melted formulation (melting-point about 39 C.). The roses were maintained in a cold room for several days, during which time they were mounted in a frame without any supporting wires and in which they stood erect. Thereafter they were removed from the cold room and placed in a vase containing water. After a short period the coating dissolved from the stems revealing them to be in unbruised condition. Shortly thereafter the bud roses bloomed and were maintained in a state of full bloom for several days. Thereafter, examination of cultures made from scrapings from the stem revealed the presence of none of the organisms described above in Example II.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations are to be inferred therefrom.

I claim:

1. In a method of treating cut flowers, the step of maintaining the stems of cut flowers in an aqueous medium having a pH outside the range 4-6 for a period necessary to cause blooming of buds by subjecting the 7 stems to a preservative oomposition comprising silver iodine, s id @QmPQsitiQtl ein efiect e to desr as t rate of fl e r s r ti n in h said pH range b s stantially ineif ecti ve to decrease said rate outside said PH n 2. In a method of treating cut flowers to accelerate the blooming of buds thereof, the step of maintaining the stems thereof in an aqueous medium including a pH change-inhibiting composition, said composition being effective to inhibit pH change of said medium by said stems into the range 4-6 for a period of less than about 24 hours to cause blooming of said buds.

3. The method of claim 2, vin whichthe said com position comprises a silver-containing compound.

4. The method of claim 2, in which the said medium is fortified with a silver-containing material and an alkaline bulfering material. a

5. In a method of treating cut flowers to control the blooming of buds thereof, the steps of coating at least the bottom portions of the stems thereof prior to blooming with a water-soluble wax-like material, said material being solid at room temperature, dissolving said coating with an aqueous medium and thereafter maintaining said stems in an aqueous medium having a pH outside the range 4-6 for a period necessary to cause blooming of buds.

6. The method of claim 5, in which the said pH is achieved by fortifying said last mentioned medium with a composition resistive to pH change of said medium by said stems.

7. The method of claim 6, in which the said composition is dispersed in said wax-like material.

8. The method of claim 7, in which the said composition comprises a silver-containing compound whereby the stem-coated flowers are additionally preserved against bacterial degradation.

9. The method of cla 8, in which the silver-conteixtisesemeeand is ereseat n as. amount tafiieieat is pro ide a cnaeentratiea thereet in. said as eati asd me ium n the range. e bor tltq Q to a out 0 17.

Q- In a me ed. of treatin fl w rs s o y aft r cutt ng to Preser e them in an un o d o di on. pr or to u e s disp ay q d pt m for pid blooming thereafter, the step of coating at least the bottom portions of the stems thereof with a wax-like material solid at room temperature having suspended therein a silver-containing compound.

11. The method of claim 10, in which the said wa t; like material is a polyethylene glycol.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,779,299 Valentine Oct. 21, 1930 1,909,013 Ruzicka May 16, 1933 1,956,908 Neubert May 1, 1934 1,978,201 Heuer Oct. 23, 1934 2,013,063 Miller Sept.'3, 1935 2,230,931 Bussert Feb. 4, 1941 2,567,929 Fessenden Sept. 18, 1951 2,614,039 Hamper Oct. 14, 1952 2,658,836 Fessenden Nov. 10, 195.3 OREIGN PATENTS 954,317 France June 6, 1949 332,278 Great Britain July 17, 1930 92. Gr a r ta S p 6. 1947 OTHER REFERENCES ubl at ns: G ns ad Keepin Cut F o rs r s pub i h u y 1 24 n The Ga den M azine, l- Pa e 343.-

chem ea Ab trac s (ma azine) v9 21, Pllblihd 1927, p 4 1 ar icle. The Inte n l Therapy 9 Plants.

new 

1. IN A METHOD OF TREATING CUT FLOWERS, THE STEP OF MAINTAINING THE STEMS OF CUT FLOWERS, THE STEP OF MAINTAINING THE STEMS OF CUT FLOWERS IN AN AQUEOUS MEDIUM HAVING A PH OUTSIDE THE RANGE 4-6 FOR A PERIOD NECESSARY TO CAUSE BLOOMING OF BUDS BY SUBJECTING THE UPDATE, SAID COMPOSITION BEING EFFECTIVE TO DECREASE THE RATE OF FLOWER RESPIRATION IN THE SAID PH RANGE BUT SUBSTANTIALLY INEFFECTIVE TO DECREASE SAID RATE OUTSIDE SAID PH-RANGE. 